Monday, 26 December 2016

Boxing Day Traditions.

That is our lifeboat behind the wave.Every year on Boxing Day, 26th December, Fraserburgh has the Boxing Day swim. Idiots swim across the harbour to raise money for the RNLI. Royal National Lifeboat Institution. This is a voluntary organisation. Each volunteer has a pager. When it goes off they all go. Rescue people and boats. Just amazing.

What is even more amazing that people still do it.The temperature in the water was 3 degrees. The wind was at least 60 mph. 23 people did the swim. The Dawn Patroller was there. I wasnt.The other traditions. The annual temperance walk held at the coastal villages of Inverallochy Cairnbulg and St Combs where the walkers are led by flute players

Each year the North East of Scotland Aberdeenshire villagers of Inverallochy, Cairnbulg and St Combs take part in a temperance walk to shake off the winter cobwebs. Each village in the Buchan Coast takes turns to host the walk which has been happening for over 160 years.

The history of these walks dates back to an evangelical time in the villages when they were regenerated after a bad period during the 19th Century when there was much village fighting and drunkenness which only ended after an outbreak of cholera in 1847. After this epidemic the communities grew and turned to religion. The tradition of the temperance walks started at this time.

2 comments:

I thought people were mad swimming in the sea down here in Brighton but to do it in Scotland is insane, I think I would have an instant heart attack if I were to try it.My son lives in Ayr and has battoned down the hatches, removed the green house door as it seems there is less damage this way and holed up inside. lolBrionyx

We have a polar bear swim in a large lake (actually the city reservoir) on New Year's Day. It's certainly cold enough here in southern Indiana on Jan. 1st to give one pause, but they always have a pretty large group who are willing to give it at least a short jump in and out. Can't see it myself!

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Welcome.

We moved to the North East of Scotland in 2002. It is an area rich in history of fishing and farming, beautiful beaches and coast line, cliffs, sand dunes, wildlife. More and more of my time is now spent painting but I also manage to watch birds. I have COPD so my physical life is limited. My husband aka The Dawn Patroller is my carer. I hope there is something to interest you in my blog. Catch up with my art work on my Facebook page, Buchan Birds and Beasts.